Almost 11,000 Ukrainians entered Romania on first day of Russian invasion - minister

Romanians serve tea, water and food to people crossing the border from Ukraine into Romania at Siret Customs, in Suceava, Romania, February 25, 2022. Inquam Photos/Casian Mitu via REUTERS

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A total of 10,624 Ukrainians entered Romania through its six border checkpoints on Thursday as Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air, Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode said on Friday.

Bode said 3,660 of them passed through Romania on their way to Bulgaria and Hungary. Of the roughly 7,000 who are currently in Romania, only 11 have requested political asylum. The others can legally stay for up to 90 days without having to do so.